Pink peppercorn apple simple syrup is made with just a few ingredients. This apple simple syrup is the perfect thing to place on your bar cart for the Fall season. It is made with just a few ingredients, including pink peppercorns and passion fruit tea. Yep, the tea gives it a lovely pink tint! The apples provide just a touch of flavor. This can also be added to your coffee if you love it sweet.

Published on September 24, 2021

Modified on August 24, 2025

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Eye-Catching Natural Hue
   The hibiscus (or passion fruit) tea bag not only infuses tart floral notes but also imparts a beautiful pink tint—elevating both flavor and presentation

2. A Balanced Flavor Profile
   Crisp apple sweetness, a hint of tartness from the tea, and the gentle warmth and fruitiness of pink peppercorns come together in a harmony that feels both cozy and unexpected

3. Versatility Across Uses
   Perfect for cocktails like a Pink Apple Martini, yet equally delicious drizzled over desserts or incorporated in mocktails or sodas

Ingredients you will need for Pink Peppercorn Apple Simple Syrup:

Sugar – The foundation of any syrup, sugar provides sweetness and structure. It balances the tartness of the fruit and tea while also acting as a preservative, helping the syrup last longer.

Red Apples (Pink Lady or Fuji) – Apples add natural fruit flavor, sweetness, and body to the syrup. Pink Lady and Fuji are excellent choices because they’re crisp, slightly tart, and aromatic, giving the syrup a bright and juicy apple base.

Passion Fruit or Hibiscus Tea Bag – This adds a layer of tart, floral, and tropical notes that keep the syrup from being overly sweet. Passion fruit offers a tangy brightness, while hibiscus brings a ruby hue and a cranberry-like tartness. Either option deepens the flavor complexity.

Pink Peppercorn – Unlike black pepper, pink peppercorns are lightly spicy, floral, and fruity. They bring a gentle heat that enhances the apples and tea, giving the syrup a sophisticated and unique flavor twist.

Water – The medium that extracts flavors from the fruit, tea, and peppercorns. It dissolves the sugar, carrying all the elements together into a smooth, pourable syrup.

This recipe calls for a higher water vs sugar ratio, as I like a less sweet syrup for our cocktails. If your prefer a sweeter version go ahead and up the sugar to equal the water. Choose any apples you would like, but stick to red tart apples for this recipe, as they amp up the flavor more than a sweeter apple would.

Storage Tips

• Fridge Storage: Store your syrup in a sealed jar or bottle. It typically lasts about 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator

• Alcohol Boost: To give it an extra week of fridge life, stir in a few drops (e.g., ½–1 teaspoon per cup) of vodka. Alcohol acts as a mild antimicrobial preservative—perfect when you want to minimize flavor impact yet extend freshness.

• Long-Term Option: For longer-term storage, freeze the syrup in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer to freezer-safe containers—great for timed use or portion control.

Suggested Uses for Your Syrup

Cocktails & Mocktails

• Pink Apple Martini – Mix vodka, citrus (lemon), Cointreau (if you like), and syrup; shake and strain into a martini glass with an apple slice garnish

• Spritz or Fizz – Combine syrup, sparkling wine or soda water, maybe a citrus element for brightness.

• Mocktail Apple Refresher – Stir the syrup into iced tea or sparkling water for a lightly spiced, fruity mocktail.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

• Flavorful Teas or Lemonades – Add a splash to iced tea or lemonade for a fruity-spicy twist.

• Fruit Sodas – Sweeten plain sparkling water or sodas with a few teaspoons for a flavored refresher.

Breakfast & Dessert

• Drizzle Over Pancakes, Waffles, or French Toast – A playful swap for maple syrup with layered complexity.

• Ice Cream Topping – Especially delish over vanilla, caramel, or apple-flavored ice cream.

• Cake Soak or Glaze – Brush onto sponge cake layers to infuse moisture and flavor.

Creative Twists

• Cocktail Glass Rimming – Brush syrup on the rim of a glass before applying sugar or spice for a fancy finish.

• Salad Dressing – Combine with vinegar, oil, and seasonings—great on greens or fruit-based salads.

• Savory Glaze or Marinade – Use in glazes for roasted chicken, ham, or pork to deliver sweet-spicy-savory notes.

Apple Simple Syrup

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Author: Bruce and Dina Miller

Ingredients

• 4 small or 2 medium size red apples
• 4 tablespoons pink peppercorns
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups water

Instructions

Instructions for Pink Peppercorn Apple Simple Syrup:

• Core and seed the apples, leaving the skin on. Slice thin, and then chop. Getting thinner pieces is important so that you get the flavor into the syrup, rather than having the sugar and water soak into the apples. Place apples in a saucepan.
• Add sugar and water to the apples, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 5 minutes. It is fine to simmer for 10. Remove from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of the peppercorns. Add the tea bag, and make sure it goes into the syrup, so it can impart the bright color. If you want a richer color, use 2 teabags. Allow syrup to steep for 10 minutes.
• Remove the teabag and discard. Pour the syrup thru a colander, over a strainer. Now using a flexible spatula, press down to remove as much of the syrup. After I do this once, I pour thru the strainer one more time. Allow syrup to cool.
• Store syrup in an air tight bottle. This will keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Notes

Pro tip from a Lauren at Bonappeteach.com:

Add a splash of vodka to help your simple syrup last longer in the fridge! She has some amazing sugar free recipes for simple syrups that you will have to check out!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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